Surfing Fitness

Questions and answers for those needing help or advice when learning to surf, improving technique or just comparing notes.

Surfing Fitness

Postby TheLearningCurve » Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:45 pm

Hi all,

I don’t live by the coast but I’ve been getting into surfing whenever I can get to the waves, but every time I’m there my paddling strength isn’t at its best.
With winter coming up I’ll have a good few months out of the water, so what workouts and exercises would you suggest to build up my paddling strength and endurance?

Thanks!
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby dtc » Sun Nov 03, 2019 3:41 am

Swimming basically. Or any other cardio exercise as a secondary choice

Weights etc work to assist preventing injury, but surfing for most people doesnt require too much strength or power (ie the level required is within the scope of most people if they are reasonably active). But core work, pull ups and push ups are good; shoulder focus for injury prevention.

But its mostly a lack of endurance that will cause you problems
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby oldmansurfer » Sun Nov 03, 2019 4:39 am

I think swimming would be good as well but I think paddling a surfboard is better training for surfing or for swimming for that matter. My swimming improved dramatically once i started surfing. I currently do fast walking for cardio and weights for strength and stretchy bands for both strength and endurance. I do leg lifts for core.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby 123456 » Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:28 pm

this workout is a nightmare but it will get you on the right track: http://www.surfline.com/community/whokn ... fm?id=1169

swimming, even with a pull buoy (my preferred method for surf training cause it's all on the arms), is the best surf training you can do. sure, you can do strength training exercises and core work, but the vast majority of your time in the water will be paddling, so train appropriately.

happy swimming!
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby Ace864 » Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:33 am

I would recommend you do a lot of cardio exercises. It will make you more hardy, and you will not feel exhausted after a long break. Also, you can google for different workouts that help you keep balance on board. You can also check snowboard workouts during the offseason, they are almost the same.
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby BoMan » Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:45 pm

Burpees are great for building pop-up strength.
"A person's sense of balance is measured by how he handles the unexpected." - Brian Herbert
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Re: Surfing Fitness

Postby Ace864 » Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:28 am

By the way, I forgot to mention, that it is hard to recover after a long break, especially if you tend to gain more extra weight. I used to be on a long break after a car accident. Obviously, I didn’t surf for more than a year and didn’t move at all when I was in the hospital. I gained a lot of extra weight during that time. I started to recover slowly. Also, I tried intermediate fasting. So if you do not work out and get some weight during the offseason. . It will help you to lose extra pounds easily. Surprisingly I feel full of energy after I do intermediate fasting.
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